Upgrade Guide
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II→Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the OM-D E-M5 III
-
StabilisationIBIS added — significant for handheld and video
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Generation3 years newer (2019 vs 2016)
Unchanged or similar
-
ResolutionSimilar (20MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | OM-D E-M1 Mark II | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | +0.1 | ||
| Street | +0.8 | ||
| Travel | +0.7 | ||
| Wedding & Events | -0.9 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +1.2 | ||
| Filmmaking | -0.3 | ||
| Documentary | +0.2 | ||
| Sports & Action | -0.9 | ||
| Landscape | +0.3 | ||
| Wildlife | -0.3 | ||
| Casual | +2.2 | ||
| Food | +0.6 | ||
| Macro | +0.4 | ||
| Architecture | +0.3 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.1 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | OM-D E-M1 Mark II | OM-D E-M5 III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £396 | £699 | |
| Released | 2016 | 2019 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | |
| Resolution | 20MP | 20MP | |
| Video | C4K/24p, 4K/30p, Full HD 1080p/60 | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | |
| Autofocus | 121-point all cross-type on-sensor phase detect + contrast AF, face and eye detection | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | |
| Stabilisation | 5-axis in-body stabilisation, 5.5 stops (CIPA) | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 60fps (18fps with continuous AF) | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | ↓ |
| Battery Life | ~440 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) | ↓ |
| Weight | 574g (with battery) | 414g (body only) | ↑ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | OLED EVF, 2.36M dots, 1.48x | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD slots | Single SD UHS-I |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See OM-D E-M1 Mark II and OM-D E-M5 III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the OM-D E-M5 III against your specific genres — not just specs.
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